Bin for accumulating spherical articles

ABSTRACT

An accumulator bin for substantially spherical articles which spaces the bin delivery gate from the point of application of the accumulated articles to utilize the natural angle of repose of the articles to deliver a single layer of articles at the point of application. Bridging at the delivery gate is retarded by a certain dimensional gate opening relative to the diameter of articles accumulated along with pressure relieving baffles strategically placed.

United States Patent Livingston June 12, 1973 [54] BIN FOR ACCUMULATINGSPHERICAL 3,590,981 7/1971 Adrian 193/7 ARTICLES 1,157,019 10 1915McCabe 193 32 [75] Inventor: Clarence N. Livingston, Claremont, FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Calif. 841,422 6/1952 Germany 214/17 R [73]Assignee: Sunkist Growers, lnc., Sherman Oaks Calm PrimaryExammer-Robert G. Sher1dan AttorneyWilliam K. Quarles [22] Filed: Sept.13, 1971 21 Appl. 110.; 179,738 [57] ABSTRACT A An accumulator bin forsubstantially spherical articles 52 US. (:1 214/16 R, 193/7, 193/32which Spaces the bin delivery gate from the Point of v- 51 int. c1 B65g65/40 Plication 0f the accumulated articles to utilize the [58] Field ofSearch 214/17 R, 16 R; ral angle of repose of the articles to deliver aSingle 193, 198/54 222 layer of articles at the point of application.Bridging at the delivery gate is retarded by a certain dimensional 5References Cited gate opening relative to the diameter of articles accu-UNITED STATES PATENTS mulated along with pressure relieving bafflesstrategically placed. 1,886,295 11/1932 M0rr1s 193/32 X 2,312,450 3/1943Smith 193/32 X 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BIN FOR ACCUMULATINGSPHERICAL ARTICLES This invention pertains to an accumulator bin forsubstantially spherical articles which is adapted to release theaccumulated articles in a controlled, continuous manner.

Prior art accumulator bins are typically filled from the top and have anopening for releasing the contents near its lower reaches. The means forreleasing the contents is ordinarily in the form of a gate or the like,such that the contents spill-out in random fashion once the gate isopened. Oft-times the contents tend to wedge or bridge about the openingsuch that it is blocked and the flow of accumulated articles from thebin is interrupted.

The accumulator bin of my invention has the advantage that it deliversor releases a pile of substantially spherical articles such as oranges,grapefruit or the like onto a conveyor or other point of application ina single layer.

It is a further advantage of my invention that it will deliver sphericalarticles from a bin without the articles bridging or otherwise tendingto plug the outlet of the bin.

It is a further advantage of my invention to provide a means forprotecting the articles from physical damage as they fall from a feedconveyor into the accumulator bin.

The controlled release of the instant invention is effected by utilizingthe natural angle of repose of the particular contents in the bin. Thearticles are released through a gate spaced from the conveyor or otherpoint of application a distance such that the natural angle of repose ofthe articles tends to deliver the articles in a single layer at thepoint of application.

Bridging or plugging of the delivery gate of the bin is retarded by thecombination of an inclined floor panel, a gate opening set at a certainheight relative to the size of the accumulated articles and removal ofthe pressure from the weight of the accumulated articles from thearticles near the delivery gate.

Damage to articles being accumulated due to their fall into the bin iseliminated by certain closely spaced baffle members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevationview of the accumulator bin of my invention showing two releaseorifices.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the accumulator bin takenon lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation view of the lower-most portion ofthe accumulator bin as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the lower baffle boardand gate of FIG. 2 shown in more detail.

Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral refers generally to theaccumulator bin of my invention. It is shown in a fragmentary fashion asany number of similar outlets may be added by extending the bin towardthe right hand portion of FIG. 1.

Accumulator bin 20 is mounted upon a frame designated generally as 21which basically consists of legs 22 and cross members 23 secured bysupporting strut 24 and base member 25. The frame components as shown inthe drawing are fabricated of typical steel stock and may be secured inthe usual manner by bolts, welding, etc. The frame structure is notcritical and may be constructed of other materials such as wood and thelike and connected together in the typical fashion recognized in the artfor those materials.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the accumulator bin includes front panel 26,rear panel 28, side panels 29 and floor panel 30. The panels may beconstructed of any suitable material such as A inch plywood. Floor panel30 is covered with a flexible pad of a rubber or plastic material 31 toserve as a cushioning agent for the articles to be accumulated anddispensed.

Referring again to FIG. 2, baffle boards 32 and 33 extend longitudinallybetween the side panels of the accumulator bin and are secured in astepped relation to cross members 34, of wood or the like, which are inturn secured to the side panels 29 by suitable brackets 35.

Baffle board 36 is angularly inclined relative to baffle boards 32 and33 and is supported at its lower end by cross member 38 which is securedto side panels 29 by suitable brackets 39. Cross member 40, secured inany appropriate manner to front panel 26, supports the upper-most end ofbaffle board 36.

Referring now to FIG. 4, gate 41 is hingedly mounted to the lower-mostend of baffle board 36 as at 42. Gate adjustment handle 44 is pivotallyattached to the lowermost end of gate 41 as at 45. The handle 44includes cut-outs 46 designed to cooperate with hook 48 screwed intocross member 38. By lifting handle 44 and moving it forward orbackwards, the gate means 41 can be swung into the position shown inFIG. 4 to the position shown in the phantom lines in FIG. 4 to increaseor decrease the size of the opening A (see FIG. 2). Baffle board 36 andgate 41 are covered with a flexible pad 43 of a rubber or plasticmaterial to serve as a cushioning agent for the articles to beaccumulated and dispensed.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 49 refers generally to a walkingboard conveyor of the type described in co-pending patent applicationSer. No. 132,444, filed Apr. 8, 1971 to which it is desired to deliverin a single layer, articles to be conveyed.

Referring to FIG. 1, the disclosed accumulator bin includes a pluralityof openings 50 through which accumulated articles are delivered from theaccumulator bin. Adjacent each side of end opening 50, is a verticalsupport 51 which extends outwardly from front panel Drag support bar 52is mounted at each end to a support 51. Flexible drag 54 is pivotallymounted on drag support bar 52 by means of a ring-shaped fitting 53which hangs therefrom (see FIG. 3) for a reason to be hereinafterdescribed.

Bridge member 55 is hingedly attached to the lowermost edge of floorpanel 30 as at 56. It serves to maintain a continuous surface over whichthe articles may roll between the end of floor panel 30 and a conveyormeans such as 49. To halt or cease the flow of articles from the bin,bridge member 55 may also be swung upwardly to the position shown by thephantom lines in FIG. 3 in order to act as a gate. Flexible pad 57 ofplastic, leather or the like may be added to the upper surface of bridgemember 55 to serve as an extension of bridge member 55 when the conveyorbeing fed is of the walking-board type thus retarding blocking of thefruit at the front edge of the conveyor.

Rope baffles, designated generally as 60, attached to the various wallmembers of the accumulator bin extend between baffle boards 32. Ropebaffles 60 comprise nylon ropes 61 surrounded by foam pipe insulation62. Nylon ropes 61 are threaded through holes drilled in the front andside panels as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. They are spaced such thatarticles falling into the bin will continuously bounce from baffle tobaffle during their fall thus preventing a sufficient build-up momentumto damage the article as it hits the bottom of the bin.

In operation, articles to be accumulated are delivered from a conveyor(not shown) along the upper periphery or rear wall panel 28 of theaccumulator bin and directed into the accumulator bin. They roll alongthe upper-most baffle board 32 and down into the bin with the fallbroken through contact with rope baffles 60 and baffle boards 32 and 36,thus preventing damage to the articles.

As the articles accumulate in the bin, bridge 55 is ordinarily in the upposition shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 3. When the bridge 55 is inthis position, it acts as a gate thus closing off the lower opening ofthe accumulator bin so that articles will accumulate in the bin. When itis desired to feed articles from the bin, a conveyor such as at 49 isplaced adjacent opening 50 and bridge member 55 is then dropped down tothe lower position shown in FIG. 3 thus allowing the articles to roll orgravitate from the bin to the conveyor.

Floor panel 30 and the lower edge of gate member 41 define an orifice A(see FIG. 2) through which the accumulated fruit gravitates toward theconveyor. The dimensional relationship between the orifice opening A andthe distance B (the distance between the orifice A and the point ofapplication, i.e., the edge of the conveyor) may therefore be set suchthat the natural angle of repose C of the particular articlesaccumulated result in a single layer of fruit being delivered to theconveyor or other point of application adjacent the lowermost edge offloor panel 30.

Obviously distance B is substantially fixed with any particularinstallation. Therefore, to accommodate articles of greater or lesserdiameter and thus a greater or lesser angle of repose, orifice A may bevaried by adjusting the position of gate member 41. This is done bylifting adjustment handle 44 and setting it in any of the variouscut-outs 46 provided. The proper gate setting is determined rapidly bytrial and error for any particular article.

Flexible drag 54 of a heavy leather or rubber material, etc., may beprovided to drag along the tops of articles transferred to the conveyorto aid in spacing the 1 articles to insure that a single layer of fruitis delivered to the conveyor. Although desirable in some instances, thedrag is not absolutely necessary to the utility of the accumulator bin.

It will be seen from the placement of the baffle boards 32 and 36 thatas the bin fills, the baffle boards will carry or bear a great deal ofthe pressure of the accumulated articles such that the weight of thearticles does not bear upon the articles leaving or flowing from the binbeneath baffle board 36. When accumulating oranges, grapefruit and thelike, I have thus found the baffle board 36 positioned in this mannerwill bear the weight of the accumulated fruit above the exit gate thustending to reduce the tendency of the fruit to bridge at the exit gate.

l have further found that angle D, i.e., the angle floor panel 30 makeswith the horizontal (see FIG. 2) affects the flow of fruit from the bin.If this angle is maintained at approximately 18 and distance A ismaintained at approximately three times the diameter of the fruit, afree-flowing tendency results with virtually no bridging at opening 50.

Rear wall panel 28 may serve as a common rear panel with an identicalaccumulator bin as shown at the extreme left-hand portion of FIG. 2.When two bins are thus positioned in this back-to-back manner, they canbe supplied from a common conveyor above rear wall My description inspecific detail of the presently preferred embodiment of the inventionwill suggest various changes, substitutions, and other departures frommy disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bin for accumulating substantially spherical articles, said bincomprising:

a. side walls;

b. A floor panel inclined with respect to horizontal, said floor panelconnected to the lower portion of said side walls to define an enclosureto accumulate articles, the lower-most edge of said floor panel adaptedto be positioned adjacent a conveyor;

0. gate means through which the accumulated articles may gravitate fromsaid bin, said gate means mounted inwardly of said side walls and spacedfrom the lower-most edge of said floor panel such that the natural angleof repose of the accumulated articles gravitating from said gate meanstends to deliver articles in a substantially single layer at saidlower-most edge; and

d. a rigid baffle extending inwardly of said side walls,

said gate means mounted to the inward-most portion of said baffle,whereby said baffle relieves the pressure of accumulated articles fromthe articles gravitating through said gate means.

2. The bin of claim 1 wherein the opening of said gate means may beadjusted to accommodate articles of various diameters.

3. The bin of claim 1 further comprising a drag pad mounted above saidfloor panel outwardly of said gate means whereby said drag pad will dragalong the top of the articles as they gravitate from said bin.

4. The bin of claim 1, further comprising a ramp means hingedly mountedto swing from a lower position whereby it bridges the gap between thelower-most edge of the floor panel and an adjacent conveyor to aid thefree flow of articles from the bin to the conveyor, and an upperposition whereby it blocks the flow of fruit from said bin.

5. The bin of claim 1, further comprising rigid baffles connected tosaid side walls in a staggered relation, said baffles adapted to blockthe free fall of fruit into said bin.

6. The bin of claim 1, further comprising flexible baffles arranged inhorizontal staggered relationship to retard the free fall of articlesinto the bin.

7. The bin of claim 6 wherein said flexible baffles comprise rope strungbetween holes in said side walls.

8. The bin of claim 7 wherein said flexible baffles include a resilientjacket surrounding said rope.

1. A bin for accumulating substantially spherical articles, said bincomprising: a. side walls; b. A floor panel inclined with respeCt tohorizontal, said floor panel connected to the lower portion of said sidewalls to define an enclosure to accumulate articles, the lower-most edgeof said floor panel adapted to be positioned adjacent a conveyor; c.gate means through which the accumulated articles may gravitate fromsaid bin, said gate means mounted inwardly of said side walls and spacedfrom the lower-most edge of said floor panel such that the natural angleof repose of the accumulated articles gravitating from said gate meanstends to deliver articles in a substantially single layer at saidlowermost edge; and d. a rigid baffle extending inwardly of said sidewalls, said gate means mounted to the inward-most portion of saidbaffle, whereby said baffle relieves the pressure of accumulatedarticles from the articles gravitating through said gate means.
 2. Thebin of claim 1 wherein the opening of said gate means may be adjusted toaccommodate articles of various diameters.
 3. The bin of claim 1 furthercomprising a drag pad mounted above said floor panel outwardly of saidgate means whereby said drag pad will drag along the top of the articlesas they gravitate from said bin.
 4. The bin of claim 1, furthercomprising a ramp means hingedly mounted to swing from a lower positionwhereby it bridges the gap between the lower-most edge of the floorpanel and an adjacent conveyor to aid the free flow of articles from thebin to the conveyor, and an upper position whereby it blocks the flow offruit from said bin.
 5. The bin of claim 1, further comprising rigidbaffles connected to said side walls in a staggered relation, saidbaffles adapted to block the free fall of fruit into said bin.
 6. Thebin of claim 1, further comprising flexible baffles arranged inhorizontal staggered relationship to retard the free fall of articlesinto the bin.
 7. The bin of claim 6 wherein said flexible bafflescomprise rope strung between holes in said side walls.
 8. The bin ofclaim 7 wherein said flexible baffles include a resilient jacketsurrounding said rope.